If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, focus first on safety and medical needs. Call 911 when emergency help is needed, check yourself and your passengers for injuries, move to a safe location when possible, document the crash, exchange information, and pay attention to symptoms that may develop after the collision.
Truck crashes can involve significant forces, and injuries are not always obvious immediately after an accident. Neck pain, back pain, headaches, stiffness, soreness, soft tissue injuries, and reduced mobility may become more noticeable after the initial shock of the collision wears off. Serious symptoms, suspected head injuries, fractures, internal injuries, or other medical emergencies should be evaluated immediately by an appropriate medical provider or emergency department.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
The minutes after a truck accident can feel overwhelming. You may be dealing with traffic, damaged vehicles, injuries, police, witnesses, and questions about what happened all at once. You do not need to solve everything at the scene. Start with safety, then work through the following steps as your condition allows.
1. Call 911 and Report the Accident
If anyone is injured, the vehicles cannot be moved safely, or the crash involves other serious circumstances, call 911 and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Law enforcement can respond to the scene, address immediate safety concerns, and document information about the collision.
A Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report may also provide useful documentation about the vehicles, drivers, circumstances, and responding officers involved in the crash. You can learn more about obtaining a crash report through the Texas Department of Transportation.
2. Check Yourself and Your Passengers for Injuries
Before focusing on vehicle damage or exchanging information, check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If someone appears seriously injured or is experiencing symptoms that may require emergency care, call for medical assistance and avoid moving them unless remaining in place creates an immediate danger.
Do not assume you are uninjured simply because you do not feel severe pain immediately after the crash. Some symptoms can become more noticeable in the hours or days following an accident.
Common Injuries After a Truck Accident
Depending on how the collision occurred, truck accident injuries may affect several areas of the body. Accident-related injuries can include:
- Whiplash
- Neck pain and neck injuries
- Back pain and back injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee and leg injuries
- Head injuries and concussions
- Fractures and other traumatic injuries
Head injuries deserve particular attention because concussion symptoms are not always obvious immediately after an injury. Headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, vision changes, or other concerning neurological symptoms should be evaluated by an appropriate medical provider. Learn more about concussion symptoms from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
3. Move to a Safe Location When Possible
If you can move safely and remaining where you are puts you at risk from traffic or other hazards, get yourself and your passengers to a safer location. Do not attempt to drive a vehicle that is unsafe or inoperable.
Your immediate priority should be protecting yourself and others from additional harm while waiting for law enforcement, emergency personnel, or roadside assistance.
4. Take Photos and Document the Crash
If your condition allows and it is safe to do so, take photographs or video of the accident scene. Try to document the vehicles involved, visible damage, the roadway, surrounding signs or signals, and other details that may help show what happened.
You may also want to write down or save information about the time and location of the crash while the details are still fresh.
5. Exchange Information
Exchange information with the other drivers involved when you are able to do so safely. Because commercial truck crashes may involve both a driver and a trucking company, there may be more information to collect than there would be after a typical passenger-vehicle accident.
Useful information may include:
- Driver names and contact information
- Driver’s license information
- Vehicle and license plate information
- Insurance information
- Trucking company or employer information
- Names and contact information for witnesses
- Names or badge numbers of responding officers
You do not need to debate responsibility for the collision at the scene. Focus on safety and collecting accurate information.
6. Get Appropriate Medical Care
Serious or potentially life-threatening injuries should be evaluated through emergency or other appropriate medical care. Even when emergency treatment is not required, continue paying attention to how you feel after the collision. Pain, stiffness, headaches, soreness, or changes in mobility may become more noticeable later.
For accident-related musculoskeletal injuries, Premier Injury Clinics of DFW provides auto injury treatment for patients recovering after motor vehicle collisions. Our team evaluates symptoms and mobility limitations and develops a treatment plan based on the patient’s injuries and recovery needs.
Depending on the condition, treatment may include chiropractic adjustments, rehabilitation therapy, mobility-focused exercises, and other supportive care designed to reduce pain, restore movement, and improve function after an accident.
7. Contact Your Insurance Company
Once immediate safety and medical needs have been addressed, notify your insurance company about the accident and ask what information they need from you. Keep copies of photographs, crash reports, medical records, treatment information, receipts, and other documents related to the collision.
If you are receiving care for accident-related injuries, keeping an accurate record of your symptoms, evaluations, and treatment also creates a clearer picture of how your condition changes during recovery.
Truck Accident Injury Treatment in DFW
A truck accident can leave you dealing with pain, stiffness, reduced mobility, and uncertainty about what comes next. At Premier Injury Clinics of DFW, our accident injury doctors and chiropractors focus on evaluating and treating musculoskeletal injuries caused by car accidents, truck crashes, motorcycle collisions, workplace accidents, and other traumatic events.
During your first visit, our team evaluates your injuries, reviews your symptoms and mobility limitations, and develops a treatment plan based on your condition and recovery goals. We monitor your progress throughout treatment and adjust your care as your mobility and symptoms change.
Premier Injury Clinics of DFW has seven convenient DFW locations serving patients throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Same-day appointments may be available, and free transportation is available for qualifying patients within 15 miles of our clinics.
If you are experiencing neck pain, back pain, stiffness, soreness, headaches, soft tissue pain, or reduced mobility after a truck accident, contact Premier Injury Clinics of DFW to schedule an accident injury evaluation.
Truck Accident Injury FAQs
Should I get checked after a truck accident if I feel okay?
Some accident-related symptoms may not be obvious immediately after a collision. If you develop pain, stiffness, headaches, soreness, reduced mobility, or other symptoms after a truck crash, an evaluation can help identify the source of those symptoms and determine what type of care may be appropriate.
What injuries can happen in a truck accident?
Truck accidents may cause whiplash, neck and back injuries, soft tissue injuries, shoulder and knee injuries, joint pain, headaches, reduced mobility, fractures, head injuries, and other traumatic injuries. The type and severity of injury depend on the circumstances of the crash.
Can a chiropractor help after a truck accident?
Chiropractic care may be appropriate for certain musculoskeletal injuries after a truck accident, including some cases involving neck pain, back pain, stiffness, joint restrictions, and reduced mobility. Treatment should be based on an evaluation of the patient’s individual condition. Serious injuries and medical emergencies require appropriate medical care first.
What happens during my first visit to Premier Injury Clinics of DFW?
Your first visit includes an evaluation of your injuries, symptoms, mobility, and recovery needs. Our team uses that information to develop an individualized treatment plan and determine whether chiropractic care, rehabilitation therapy, supportive treatment, or additional medical referrals may be appropriate.
Does Premier Injury Clinics of DFW provide transportation after a truck accident?
Yes. Premier Injury Clinics of DFW provides free transportation within 15 miles of each clinic for qualifying patients, helping make it easier to attend appointments and continue treatment during recovery.
